Ovaal met gestileerde ranken waarin figuren verwerkt zijn c. 1615 - 1630

This oval print, adorned with stylized tendrils and figures, was produced by an anonymous artist. The key here is the method of production: engraving. Look closely and you can see how the design is composed of thousands of tiny cuts into a metal plate. The incised lines hold ink, which is then transferred to paper under immense pressure. The resulting image has a crisp, almost ethereal quality. Engraving like this demands incredible skill and patience. Each line had to be carefully planned and executed. The density of the lines creates shading and volume, bringing the figures and foliage to life. Prints like these weren't considered high art, yet they circulated widely, carrying designs and ideas across Europe. They were the social media of their time. This unassuming print shows how technical skill, combined with an understanding of popular taste, can have a big impact. It prompts us to question what we consider art, and who gets to make it.